Fauna & Flora International Programme Manager - East Africa Job in Nairobi, Kenya

Fauna & Flora International (FFI)

Programme Manager – East Africa

Fauna & Flora International: Fauna & Flora International (FFI) protects threatened species and ecosystems worldwide, choosing solutions that are sustainable, based on sound science and take account of human needs. 

Operating in more than 40 countries worldwide, mainly in the developing world, FFI saves species from extinction and habitats from destruction, whilst improving the livelihoods of local people. 

 

Founded in 1903, FFI is the world’s longest established international conservation body and a registered charity.

Africa Programme

Working closely with local partners, FFI’s Africa Programme currently operates in 12 countries in West, Central, East and Southern Africa, and is implementing a range of projects focused on species and habitat conservation, biodiversity planning, protected area management, institutional development and capacity building, sustainable use and community-focused wildlife management initiatives.

To achieve its mission in Africa, FFI has adopted an innovative approach based on local partnerships that helps give prominence to the socio-economic elements of effective conservation. 

In all its projects in Africa, FFI seeks to:

• Build local partnerships with African conservation and community development organisations


• Strengthen institutions to bring sustainability and added value to projects


• Maintain long term relationships


• Reconcile conservation goals with the needs of local people


• Incorporate sound science in decision-making

Eastern Africa Programme

FFI’s Eastern Africa programme currently operates in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, providing some operational support to the wider regional programmes including those in South Sudan and DRC. 

The current programme has a focus on mechanisms for community-based natural resource management at both marine and terrestrial sites, working through local partners, with the oil and gas industry and engaging with relevant international, regional and national stakeholders including local communities, non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations, local government and central government agencies.

The Opportunity: FFI is seeking a highly experienced conservation professional to fulfil the role of Programme Manager, assuming responsibility for the operational management, implementation and development of FFI’s conservation strategy and programme of projects in Eastern Africa (Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda).

The successful candidate will have with a strong proven track record in operational, project, grant and financial management at a similar level and be skilled in providing strategic advice and technical input to the design, development, implementation and evaluation of projects.  

Strong leadership and people management skills are essential to the role to ensure a professional and motivated team that delivers effectively against project aims, objectives and timelines.  

The role also requires a skilled and credible communicator, who is confident in developing and managing relationships at senior level with partner organisations and relevant stakeholders, including donors and funders.

The successful candidate will have a strong track record in fundraising, experience in institutional development and capacity building and be able to demonstrate an understanding of the statutory and regulatory frameworks within which FFI operates in Eastern Africa, as well as a commitment to organisational and legal compliance.

Terms and Conditions

Start Date: 1 January 2016

End Date: 31 December 2017

Probation Period: Six months

Gross Salary: Commensurate with skills and experience

Location: The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya. We anticipate the position will spend extensive time in Kampala, Uganda and travel to project sites in the Eastern Africa Region

Benefits: 25 working days’ annual leave entitlement plus national public holidays observed in Kenya

Hours of Work: This is a full-time position from Monday to Friday working from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, although this may vary depending on the requirements of the job in the field.

Please note that applications are sought only from individuals with entitlement to work in Kenya (proof of entitlement to work in Kenya will be required).

Job Title: Programme Manager, Eastern Africa

Reporting to: Regional Director, Africa

Line Manager of: Eastern Africa Programme Team members (currently x5 direct reports)

Key Internal
 

Relationships:

• Africa Programme Team (Africa and UK)


• Finance Teams (Africa and UK)


• Finance Business Partner, Africa, Eurasia & Americas (UK)


• Operations Teams (Africa and UK)


• Cross-cutting Teams


• Development and Communications Teams

Working with: The Programme Manager will routinely liaise with national and local government agencies, communities and community-based organisations, partner NGOs and for-profit entities, academic institutions, funders and donors, representing the values and interests of FFI at all times. 

Key stakeholders include the Ministry of Fisheries Development, Kenya Wildlife Service, National Museums of Kenya and County Councils.

Purpose: The Programme Manager, Eastern Africa will lead on the strategic planning and development of the programme, proactively identifying funders and donors and developing relationships and partnerships to support a sustainable conservation programme in the region, in line with FFI’s mission, vision and strategic aims.  

S/he will oversee programme and project implementation, ensuring sound operational and financial management and compliance with internal policies and procedures, contracts/grant agreements and relevant statutory and regulatory frameworks.

Responsibilities:
Programme Development

• In collaboration with the Regional Director, Africa, lead on the strategic planning and development of the Eastern Africa programme in line with FFI’s business plan and strategy, including advising on opportunities, priorities and optimal use of funds


• In collaboration with the Regional Director, Africa, project managers and technical specialists, develop and input to project concepts and proposals, in line with approved strategic plans and FFI’s project cycle


• Proactively identify prospective funders and donors and develop tailored proposals to fund approved projects, working with the Finance Business Partner to ensure accurate budgeting, staff and overhead charging and cost recovery


• Ensure that funding and donor proposals and resulting contracts and grant agreements are appropriate to, and comply with, FFI operating standards and implementation conditions within Eastern Africa


• Proactively develop and nurture relationships with prospective and existing funders and donors, ensuring open and regular communication and hosting donor visits as required

Programme Representation

• Represent FFI and the Eastern Africa programme, developing its profile and promoting its work to third parties, including diplomatic and government agencies, communities, NGOs, for-profit entities, academic institutions, funders and donors, and media


• Represent FFI at key fora, including consultations, negotiations, meetings,  workshops and briefings


• Engage in relevant policy dialogues with a view to influencing positively policies that impact on biodiversity


• Ensure membership of relevant fora and associations to support and further the work of the Eastern Africa programme

Operational Management

• Provide strong and motivational line management to Eastern Africa programme staff through objective setting, continuous performance management, annual appraisal, training provision and personal development planning to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of the programme


• Oversee the implementation of project delivery across the Eastern Africa programme, ensuring compliance with FFI operating standards, policies and procedures, and contracts and grant agreements


• Support project team members to ensure work plans are in place to meet project aims, objectives and timelines and ensure that projects are implemented in line with work plans and within budget


• In collaboration with the Monitoring and Evaluation team, develop and manage processes for the effective monitoring and evaluation of projects, ensuring timely adaptation as required to meet project aims, objectives and timelines, and support the dissemination of lessons learnt


• Ensure effective coordination and integration of input from technical and cross-cutting teams


• In consultation with the Regional Director, Africa, resource operations to meet the business need, within budget and in accordance with FFI’s Delegation of Authorities


• With the support of regional and UK operations staff, ensure the effective administration of FFI’s operations in Eastern Africa, including:

1. Developing and implementing in-country systems, policies and procedures, that accord, to the extent possible, with institutional systems, policies and procedures


2. Ensuring compliance with FFI’s systems, policies and procedures and FFI’s Delegation of Authorities


3. Ensuring recording and maintenance of FFI assets

• Ensure compliance with institutional Health & Safety policies and procedures to manage and minimise risk within the Eastern Africa programme


• Remain informed of security issues within the Eastern Africa region and communicate issues of concern swiftly to the Regional Director, Africa, advising of potential impact on staff, operations, projects and finances


• In collaboration with the Regional Director, Africa, develop strategies to manage impacts caused by security issues

Financial Management
 

With the support of the Finance Business Partner and finance teams, ensure:

• Accurate financial management of the Eastern Africa programme and its projects


• Compliance with internal financial policies and procedures


• Compliance with contracts and grant agreements, including co-financing and procurement requirements


• Timely submission of invoices and internal transfer requests to maintain appropriate cash flow


• Maintenance of financial records to meet in-country and wider institutional auditing requirements

Working with the regional and finance teams, lead on the annual budgeting and quarterly reforecasting process  for the Eastern Africa programme
 

Working with project managers and finance teams, ensure timely and accurate technical, operational and financial donor and institutional reporting

Technical Input

• Provide technical advice and input on conservation issues and priorities, project design, development, implementation and monitoring


• Provide technical advice as required to partner organisations and individual community-based initiatives, including advice in the areas of institutional development, governance and financial management

Legal Compliance
 

Ensure the legal compliance of FFI’s operations in Eastern Africa, supported by operations staff, including:

• Acting as legal representative of FFI as required, assuming such powers and authorities as are vested in the position


• Securing and maintaining registrations, permits, letters of authority etc. necessary for the presence of FFI and the implementation of FFI operations in Eastern Africa


• Securing and maintaining insurances necessary for the implementation of FFI operations in Eastern Africa


• Ensuring the submission of statutory in-country returns, accounts etc.

With the support of regional HR teams and the UK HR Department, ensure HR compliance with Eastern Africa legislation, including:

• Developing and implementing contracts of employment and HR policies and procedures that accord, to the extent possible, with institutional HR practice and that comply with local labour laws


• Issuing and signing contracts in accordance with FFI’s Delegation of Authorities


• Ensuring tax, social security and other mandatory systems are in place in compliance with local labour and tax laws


• Ensuring necessary visas, work permits etc. are secured

Remain up-to-date with statutory and regulatory frameworks relevant to operations in the region
 

In collaboration with the Regional Director, Africa and in accordance with FFI’s Delegation of Authorities, oversee the recruitment of local staff and consultants

Liaising with the regional team and UK HR Department, provide support as required to the recruitment of international staff and consultants

Partnership Development

• Proactively identify, develop and nurture relationships and partnerships with third parties, including national and local government agencies, community organisations, NGOs, for-profit entities and academic institutions, to maximise the effective delivery of FFI’s Eastern Africa programme and projects


• In collaboration with the regional and cross-cutting teams, build the organisational and technical capacity of in-country partners, in line with approved strategic plans and institutional agreements


• Ensure meaningful consultation with appropriate stakeholders in the development and implementation of the Eastern Africa programme


• Lead on the negotiation and development of programme/project Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) with regional and national government and partners, in consultation with the Regional Director, Africa and in accordance with FFI documentation and FFI’s Delegation of Authorities

Communications

• Connect the Eastern Africa programme with FFI’s wider conservation efforts through communication and collaboration with colleagues across regional programmes and cross-cutting teams


• Ensure the Regional Director, Africa remains up-to-date on the status of operations and project delivery in Eastern Africa, bringing issues that may affect operations and delivery swiftly to his/her attention


• Ensure regular and effective communication and coordination within the regional team (including regular team meetings) and with Cambridge, UK


• Liaising with the Communications and Fundraising Departments, contribute to communications and fundraising materials as required (e.g. web pages, articles, reports)

Person Specification
 

Skills     

Essential

• Excellent project management skills with proven experience in project design, development, implementation and evaluation


• Excellent financial management and numeracy skills, including budgeting and reforecasting


• Excellent leadership and people management skills, with ability to motivate and performance manage individuals to achieve excellence


• Strategic vision and strategic planning skills


• Technical conservation skills


• Strong verbal communication and networking skills, with ability to present, negotiate and persuade at all levels with confidence and credibility


• Strong written communication skills, including report and proposal writing


• Fluency in English and Swahili (spoken and written)


• Strong prioritisation and time management skills, with ability to work to multiple deadlines


• Current driving licence


• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, including Outlook and Excel

Knowledge and experience
 

Essential

• Substantial professional experience in conservation programme development and management


• Proven record of ownership of, and accountability for, programme operations and delivery at similar level


• Proven programme development and fundraising record, with experience nurturing and managing donor relationships


• Proven grant management experience


• Understanding of the statutory and regulatory frameworks within which to operate,


• Experience working with government agencies, communities and community-based organisations, partner NGOs and for-profit entities


• Experience managing teams to deliver complex projects


• Experience in institutional development and capacity building

Desirable

• Advanced degree or equivalent qualification in biodiversity conservation or related science/social science


• Experience working with the relevant Kenyan Ministries and the Kenya Wildlife Service


• Experience working with the relevant Ugandan Ministries and the Uganda Wildlife Authority

Behavioural qualities
 

Essential

• Commitment to FFI’s mission and vision


• Commitment to organisational and legal compliance


• Commitment to responsible management of donor funds


• Output-driven


• Rigorous and diligent approach to work


• Ability to work under pressure


• Ability to lead the programme independently in a remote setting with logistical constraints


• Ability to represent FFI in politically sensitive or unsettled contexts


• Team player, demonstrating ability to seek out and harness the views and contributions of others


• Ability to build positive personal and organisational relationships


• Ability to work within a multi-cultural environment

Other    

• Applications are sought only from individuals entitled to work in Kenya (proof of entitlement to work in Kenya will be required)

Application Process

Applications, consisting of covering letter explaining why you feel you should be considered for this post, a full CV and contact details for two referees (who will not be contacted without your authority) should be sent to africajobs@fauna-flora.org .

Please mark your application ‘Programme Manager, Eastern Africa’.

The closing date for applications is Monday 16 November 2015.

Please visit the following link for more information:

http://www.fauna-flora.org/about/jobs/

Regrettably, due to limited resources and the high number of applications we receive, we are only able to contact short-listed candidates. If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion.

Applicants with Disabilities

FFI encourages applications from individuals with a disability who are able to carry out the duties of the post. If you have special needs in relation to your application, please contact Kathie Alban, HR Manager, FFI, on Tel: +44 (0) 1223 579330 or Email: kathie.alban@fauna-flora.org.

FFI values diversity and is committed to equality of opportunity